r 

#63 


TO  THE  VOTERS 

OP  tub 

County  of  Guilford,  at  Homo  and  in  the  Army. 

Fellow  Citizens 

I  have  already  announced  myself  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Sheriff"  in  the  County 
of  Guilford,  at  the  election  on  the  4th  of  August.  Circumstances  over  which  I  have 
no  control  will  make  it  impossible  for  me  to  canvass  the  County.  My  duties  as  War- 
den of  the  poor,  and  as  Commissioner  to  distribute  food  to  soldiers'  families  require  my 
constant  presence  at  home,  for  I  have  the  care  of  45  families  of  soldiers  with  other  poor 
families.  Beside  this,  my  own  private  business  as  a  farmer  demands  my  daily  oversight 
in  this  busy  season.  I  regret  my  inability  to  meet  the  people,  the  less  from  the  fact  that 
I  am  personally  known  to  most  of  the  voters  ot  the  County.  Neither  do  I  suppose  that 
the  good  people  of  Guilford  in  this  time  of  grief  and  suffering  are  disposed  to  be  ha- 
rangued for  their  votes.  While  I  shall  stay  by  my  duties,  and  quietly  await  your  de- 
cision, I  deem  it  proper  to  set  before  my  fellow-citizens  the  reasons  that  have  induced  me 
to  become  a  candidate.  1  am  a  candidate  on  the  repeated  solicitations  of  many  of  the 
most  worthy  citizens  of  the  different  parts  of  the  County  who  are  of  the  opinion  that 
the  office  of  Sheriff  should  not  remain  too  long  in  one  man's  hands — it  beina  an  office 
of  considerable  profit  it  should  after  short  terms  pass  into  the  hands  of  new  incumbents 
—they  believe  that  the  present  Sheriff  has  held  the  office  sufficiently  long  to  satisfy  a 
proper  regard  for  rotation  in  office.  Others  of  my  fellow-citizens  desire  a  change  in 
this  office,  because  they  wish  a  Sheriff  who  shall  more  fully  meet  the  views  and  wishes 
of  many  of  the  people  in  the  conduct  of  an  office  so  important  to  their  welfare.  Be- 
lieving it  to  be  the  duty  of  every  true  man,  and  of  every  good  citizen  to  hold  his  ser- 
vices subject  to  the  call  of  his  tellow-citizens,  I  felt  that  I  had  no  right  to  refuse  to  be- 
come the  candidate  of  those  who  think  that  a  change  in  the  Sheriff  of  our  county  is  de- 
sirable.    I  am   now   before  the  people  of  ray  county  and  solicit  their  votes I  only  ask 

your  calm,  unprejudiced  decision. 

i  feel  grateful  for  past  favors  at  the  hands  of  my  fellow-citizens.  I  believe  in  the 
rights  and  authority  of  the  people.  If  you  elect  me  to  this  responsible  place  i  shall 
hold  myself  to  be  the  Sheriff  of  the  People.  I  shall  not  become  the  official  of  a  clique 
or  of  a  party— I  shall  discharge  all  the  duties  of  my  office  as  promptly,  faithfully,  justly 
and  kindly  as  shall  be  in  my  power.     Forget  me  not  in  August. 

Very  truly  Yours, 

W.  M.  MEBANE. 


July   lli-n,   ] 60*. 


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